Chuck Schumer says he’ll support Chuck Hagel's nomination

New York Sen. Chuck Schumer announced Tuesday he’d support Chuck Hagel’s nomination for defense secretary, removing a major obstacle to the nomination and greatly increasing the chances he’ll be confirmed, even as Hagel continues to face opposition from the right.

Schumer’s backing is a major sign that Democrats who have expressed squeamishness over his nomination are starting to come on board. And with Democrats now holding a 55-45 majority in the Senate, Hagel’s prospects greatly brightened with Schumer’s support.

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Mike Allen on Schumer's Hagel hesitation

In a statement Tuesday, Schumer said Hagel addressed his concerns over Israel and Iran during a 90-minute Monday meeting at the White House, saying the former Nebraska senator had been “forthcoming and sincere.” Regarding Iran, Schumer said Hagel rejected a containment strategy regarding the country and said the U.S. would do “whatever it takes” to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Planning military contingencies against Iran would be Hagel’s “top priority” as defense secretary, Schumer said.

Moreover, Hagel told Schumer that he backs unilateral sanctions against Iran. On Hezbollah, Hagel pointed to past comments in which he referred to it as a terrorist group. And despite previously calling for direct talks with leaders of Hamas, Hagel said he now believes there should be “no negotiations with Hamas, Hezbollah or any other terrorist group until they renounce violence and recognize Israel’s right to exist.”

“Based on several key assurances provided by Sen. Hagel, I am currently prepared to vote for his confirmation,” Schumer said. “I encourage my Senate colleagues who have shared my previous concerns to also support him.”

Schumer’s support may mean a major tipping point for Hagel’s nomination, given his clout within the Senate Democratic Caucus and his deep ties to pro-Israel hawks on and off Capitol Hill. And they’re an important sign that Democrats who have expressed concerns over his nomination are starting to come on board, as California Sen. Barbara Boxer did Monday night.

One Republican, Texas Sen. John Cornyn, still opposes the nomination.

“No closed-door White House meeting with a single Senator or a letter can erase a problematic 12-year Senate record and many troubling public statements from Sen. Hagel,” Cornyn said in a statement.

“Retractions of long-held positions raise serious questions about where Sen. Hagel stands on critical issues of national defense. Our nation and our men and women in uniform need a Secretary of Defense who says what he means and means what he says.”

Most notably, Democrats have raised concerns that Hagel has been too quick to call for direct engagement with Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah rather than push tougher measures preferred by pro-Israel members of the Senate Democratic Caucus. But Hagel appears to have alleviated those fears ahead of his crucial confirmation hearings before the Senate Armed Services Committee in the coming weeks.